Faculty of Arts
French

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Faculty of Arts

1. Time commitment to study
2. Language study streams
3. Diploma in Modern Languages (French)
4. Structuring the Diploma of Modern Languages (French)
    4.1. Beginners stream
    4.2. Intermediate stream
    4.3. Post-VCE stream
5. Requirements for a major
6. Structuring a major
    6.1. Beginners stream
    6.2. Intermediate stream
    6.3. Post-VCE stream
7. Honours entry
8. Honours requirements
    8.1. Pure honours
    8.2. Combined honours
9. Studying overseas
10. Further study
11. Career opportunities
12. For more information
Subject Lists
    Language subjects
    Optional subjects
        Second/third year subjects
        Third year subject
        Third/fourth year subjects
    Fourth-year honours subjects
    French intensive

The French program at the University of Melbourne is characterised by the variety, richness and flexibility of its student pathways. Multiple entry points are provided for beginners to advanced language levels. Students have ready access to native speakers, the Diploma of Modern Languages, exchange and study abroad programs. These opportunities enhance the student experience when learning about French language, culture and literature. The research expertise of staff ranges from linguistics to many areas of both historical and contemporary French culture. This ensures that students have access to the most up-to-date and broadest modes of understanding and interpreting France and the French-speaking world. Students will benefit from the most recent advances in language teaching technologies and multimedia innovations. Graduates are equipped with the language and analytical skills to excel in many professional areas, including government and non-government organisations, international trade and the diplomatic service.

French involves the study of the language, cultural traditions and transformations of one of the world's great civilisations. France has exerted a major influence on the cultural and political history of the modern world and it has a central position in the European Union. French is also the language of numerous other countries and cultures in Europe, Africa, North America, the Caribbean and the Pacific and it is one of the main languages used by international bodies such as the United Nations.

1. Time commitment to study

As well as scheduled contact hours for lectures, tutorial and seminars a considerable additional time commitment is needed to complete the academic requirements of each subject.

A subject-specific time commitment to study will be provided by your lecturer or tutor at the beginning of semester to help you schedule your workload and successfully manage your time during the semester. In addition, general estimates of the total time commitment required to study a 12.5-point single semester subject in the Faculty of Arts can be found on Time commitment to study.

2. Language study streams

The School of Languages and Linguistics offers three streams of French:

Beginners
- The beginners stream is for students who have very little or no knowledge of French. It is available to students at both first and second year.
Intermediate
- The intermediate stream is available to students at second-year beginners level and to students who have undertaken four or five years of secondary school French, or its equivalent. It is not available to students who have attempted or completed VCE French.
Post-VCE
- The post-VCE stream is usually only available to students who have obtained a pass in VCE French, or its equivalent.

The School determines the language stream in which a student is to enrol. Placement is based on VCE results and other language study record.

Stream enrolment remains provisional until confirmed or, alternatively, altered according to the student's needs as determined by the School during the first weeks of teaching. As far as possible, the School will notify students of any changes to their stream enrolment during the first two weeks of semester. Where a change is made in the third or fourth week of semester it will be reported to the Associate Dean (Academic Programs).

3. Diploma in Modern Languages (French)

The Diploma in Modern Languages (DML) enables students to gain a diploma in language study while completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne.

The DML involves a three-year sequence of language study, totalling a minimum of 100 points. It adds one year to the duration of an ordinary degree course.

The DML (French) is offered in the beginners, intermediate and post-VCE streams. French subjects are taken alongside degree subjects in an integrated sequence of study. This must be approved by a Faculty of Arts course adviser and the French program convener. See Diploma in Modern Languages.

4. Structuring the Diploma of Modern Languages (French)

The DML (French) usually takes one of the following forms:

4.1. Beginners stream

First year

	116-121 Beginners French A	12.5
	116-123 Beginners French B	12.5

Second year

	116-009 Intermediate French Language A	12.5
	116-011 Intermediate French Language B	12.5
	116-108 Reading Strategies: Intermediate French	12.5
	or one second/third-year elective subject	12.5

Third year

	116-037 Post-beginners French IIIA	12.5
	116-038 Post-beginners French IIIB	12.5
	One second/third-year elective subject	12.5

4.2. Intermediate stream

First year

	116-009 Intermediate French Language A	12.5
	116-011 Intermediate French Language B	12.5
	116-108 Reading Strategies: Intermediate French	12.5
	or one second/third-year elective subject	12.5

Second year

	116-014 French II: Language A	12.5
	116-016 French II: Language B	12.5
	One second/third-year elective subject	12.5

Third year

	116-035 French III: Language A	12.5
	One second/third-year or third/fourth-year elective subject	12.5

4.3. Post-VCE stream

First year

	116-131 French I: Language A	12.5
	116-133 French I: Language B	12.5

Second year

	116-014 French II: Language A	12.5
	116-016 French II: Language B	12.5
	One second/third-year elective subject	12.5

Third year

	116-035 French III: Language A	12.5
	Two second/third-year or third/fourth-year elective subjects	25

For a list of the optional subjects available in the DML (French), see Requirements for a major below.

5. Requirements for a major

A major in French consists of 112.5 points usually comprising:

first-year subjects in French (25-37.5 points); and
second-year subjects in French (37.5 points); and
third-year subjects in French (37.5-50 points).

Optional subjects for the major

Second/third year		Semester
	116-018 Classical and Contemporary Novel	Not Offered
	116-019 French Theatre: Workshop/Performance	1
	116-020 Poetics and Poetry	Not Offered
	116-021 Language and Society in Europe	Not Offered
	116-022 Spoken French: Theory and Practice	Not Offered
	116-024 Women & Representation in French Society	1
	116-025 Special Study Program	2
	116-027 Immigration & Identity in Contemp.France	Not Offered
	116-028 Screening Europe: Image and Identity	Not Offered
	116-030 Paris: Ville Lumiere (on site in Paris)	2
	116-032 Puzzles and Mazes: Experimental Writing	2
	116-033 Classical and Enlightenment France	Not Offered
	116-034 Quebec: Identity in a Globalising World	1
	116-041 French Cinema Since the New Wave	1
	116-200 Research Topics and Methods	1
	116-213 French Travel Writing	Not Offered
	116-218 Matters of Taste: French Eating Cultures	2
	116-236 French Letters: Correspondence in France	2

Third year
	116-036 French III: Language B	2
	116-310 The Semiotics of Genre	Not Offered

Third/fourth year
	116-470 Special Research Project	Not Offered

Students are encouraged to consider choosing additional subjects (literary, cultural, linguistic) related to French studies offered in other Schools. Please note, they cannot be counted towards a major in French.

6. Structuring a major

A major in French can be completed through the beginners, intermediate or post-VCE streams.

6.1. Beginners stream

First year

	116-121 Beginners French A	12.5
	116-123 Beginners French B	12.5

Second year

	116-009 Intermediate French Language A	12.5
	116-011 Intermediate French Language B	12.5
	and
	116-108 Reading Strategies: Intermediate French	12.5
	or one second/third year elective subject	12.5

Third year

	116-037 Post-beginners French IIIA	12.5
	116-038 Post-beginners French IIIB	12.5
	Two optional subjects	25

6.2. Intermediate stream

First year

	116-009 Intermediate French Language A	12.5
	116-011 Intermediate French Language B	12.5
	116-108 Reading Strategies: Intermediate French	12.5

Second year

	116-014 French II: Language A	12.5
	116-016 French II: Language B	12.5
	One optional subject	12.5

Third year

	116-035 French III: Language A	12.5
	Two optional subjects	25

6.3. Post-VCE stream

First year

	116-131 French I: Language A	12.5
	116-133 French I: Language B	12.5

Second year

	116-014 French II: Language A	12.5
	116-016 French II: Language B	12.5
	One optional subject	12.5

Third year

	116-035 French III: Language A	12.5
	Three optional subjects	37.5

7. Honours entry

The prerequisites for entry to fourth-year honours in French are:

completion of all the requirements for the BA; and
completion of a major in French; and
an average grade of H2B or higher over the second/third-year subjects within the major.

Students wishing to take pure honours in French are strongly advised to enrol in additional French subjects at second/third year.

For information on how to apply see Applying for Honours.

8. Honours requirements

Honours coordinator: Dr Jill Anderson

8.1. Pure honours

Students undertaking pure honours in French must complete:

116-505 French Thesis (37.5 points); and
116-461 French IV: Honours Language I (12.5 points); and
116-471 French IV: Honours Language II (12.5 points); and
three fourth year honours subjects in French (37.5 points).

8.2. Combined honours

Students undertaking combined honours in French and another program must complete:

116-505 French Thesis (37.5 points); and
116-461 French IV: Honours Language I (12.5 points); and
116-471 French IV: Honours Language II (12.5 points); and
three fourth year honours subjects in the combining discipline (37.5 points).

honours thesis in the combining discipline (37.5 points); and
two fourth year honours subjects in the combining discipline (25 points); and
116-461 French IV: Honours Language I (12.5 points); and
116-471 French IV: Honours Language II (12.5 points); and
one fourth year honours subject in French (12.5 points).

Fourth year honours subjects

	116-415 The Sociolinguistics of French	Not Offered
	116-432 French Cinema and Society	Not Offered
	116-451 Themes in Contemporary Literature	Not Offered
	116-452 Introduction to European Critical Theory	1
	116-454 Translation Theory and Practice	Not Offered
	116-456 Espaces Francophones	Not Offered
	116-461 French IV: Honours Language I	1
	116-471 French IV: Honours Language II	2
	116-449 Special Research Subject A	1, repeat 2
	116-470 Special Research Project	Not Offered
	116-472 French Orientalisms	2

9. Studying overseas

The School offers the possibility for suitably qualified students to gain credit for study in France and elsewhere through exchange and other programs. Interested students should contact the Faculty of Arts Student Support Centre regarding credit and the International Centre for application forms and information on exchange programs. A number of travelling scholarships are available through the School of Languages and Linguistics. For more information, see Studying overseas for credit.

The School also teaches the following intensive fieldwork program in the Summer Semester. See subject entry for details:

116-030 Paris: Ville Lumiere (on site in Paris)

10. Further study

A BA with a major in French can lead to the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (French).

An honours degree in French can lead to MA and PhD degrees.

11. Career opportunities

Graduates in French are equipped to excel in numerous professions, including radio and television, the diplomatic service, international trade, the law, and administration. They may also undertake further training for professions such as journalism, teaching, interpreting, and librarianship. At the international level, French is widely used, and competence in French can open doors to a variety of opportunities.

12. For more information

School of Languages and Linguistics
Sixth Floor, Arts Centre
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel: +61 3 8344 5179
Email: fritss-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au
Web: http://www.fritss.unimelb.edu.au

Language subjects

116-121 Beginners French A
116-123 Beginners French B
116-009 Intermediate French Language A
116-011 Intermediate French Language B
116-108 Reading Strategies: Intermediate French
116-037 Post-beginners French IIIA
116-038 Post-beginners French IIIB
116-131 French I: Language A
116-133 French I: Language B
116-014 French II: Language A
116-016 French II: Language B
116-035 French III: Language A
116-036 French III: Language B

Optional subjects

Fourth-year honours subjects

116-505 French Thesis
116-415 The Sociolinguistics of French
116-432 French Cinema and Society
116-451 Themes in Contemporary Literature
116-454 Translation Theory and Practice
116-456 Espaces Francophones
116-461 French IV: Honours Language I
116-471 French IV: Honours Language II
116-449 Special Research Subject A
116-472 French Orientalisms

French intensive

183-109 Intensive Beginners French